Club History

 

The Ainslie Tennis Club is one of the first tennis clubs established in Canberra. At 3pm on Saturday 21st April 1928 the club's Patron, Colonel Goodwin, officially opened the club and served the first ball. Initial work was done using picks, shovels, horse and dray. The original clubhouse was built in 1930 on the south side of the courts. The current clubhouse was opened in 1955. Ainslie Tennis Club is an incorporated organisation managed by a Committee.

 

Maintenance of the club and Committee management is carried out by volunteer members. The club is also an affiliate of Tennis ACT.

 

The members have a well deserved reputation for friendliness and new members appreciate that we go out of our way to ensure they feel welcome and integrate well and quickly.

 

The Ainslie suburb was named after James Ainslie, a pioneer overseer of Duntroon homestead.

 

Club Timeline

 

22 August 1927
On the 22nd August 1927 fifteen people met at the Social Services Cottage in Lister Crescent, Ainslie to discuss the formation of a local tennis and social club. The Ainslie district was growing rapidly and there developed a need for a social outlet for new residents. A provisional committee was appointed to draft a constitution, consult with the Federal Capital Commission on the selection of a site and organise the voluntary labour to be used in construction.  Thomas Boag, the Supervisor for Roads and bridges, was placed in charge of the laying of the courts.

October 1927
Named as the North Ainslie Social Service Tennis Club. The committee agreed to devote seventeen Saturday afternoons to the formation of the club. Initial work was done using picks, shovels, horse and dray. Potential female members supplied billy tea (made in the park) for those men working on construction. Various fundraising events were held including a number of successful euchre parties. The club’s first office bearers were elected as follows:

Chairman – Mr McNamara
Secretary – Mr Grainger
Treasurer – Mr Sam Dee
Committee – Les Lott, Guy Thomas, Thomas Boag, Frank Bishop, Messrs McAlister, Ricklar, Lyons and Holdsworth.

 

August 1927 - April 1928 
Construction of tennis courts by volunteer labour. Initial work was done by using picks, shovels, horse and dray. A ladies committee was also appointed to organise refreshments for those working on construction of the courts. Plans were made to purchase equipment including two nets at a cost of £3.5s.0d. each and fittings from the Riverbourne Tennis Club (providing they were in good condition).

 

March 1928
New office bearers were elected including the club’s first patron, Colonel J. Goodwin and President Mr. Guy Thomas.  Other members elected were as follows:

Vice president – Mr Frank Bishop
Secretary – Mr Grainger
Treasurer – Mr Sam Dee
Committee – Mrs Agnes Gillard, George Browning, Les Lott, Frank Marcusson and Mr Holdsworth (who resigned after one month with Mr. Bill Bird elected to fill the vacancy).

 

The committee set membership fees at the following rates:

Gents    -              £1.1s.0d.
Ladies   -               12s.6d.
Juniors  -               1s.0d.

It was not until the mid 1970's that the club charged men and women the same membership fee.

 

21 April 1928
Colonel J Goodwin officially opens club and served the first ball. He also donated a tennis racquet to be offered as a prize at the first club competition.
Membership is 79 people. Invitations to the opening were sent to all other tennis clubs in the area. An afternoon tea was held to celebrate the occasion. Initial membership stood at 79 consisting of 32 men, 24 women and 23 juniors.

25 May 1928
Ainslie Club enters first team in local competition. One of the principal functions of any sporting club is to provide competition for its members. The first Ainslie team to enter the local competition was a mixed "B" grade team in May 1928. No record of its success has been recorded for posterity. Social competition has proved popular amongst members since the club's inception. Until the 1950's a feature of this social tennis was the organising of matches against other clubs. In May 1928 (one month after the club's official opening) the Westlake Tennis Club threw out a social challenge to the Ainslie Club. Other early matches were played against the Reid and Causeway Tennis Clubs.

In later years members were prepared to travel further for competition. Occasionally one or two car loads of members would take to country roads for competitive and social outings against tennis clubs at Tharwa, Yass Junction, Lake in Bathurst and Cuppacumbalong.

 

1929
As early as 1929 the President of the club, then Mr Guy Thomas, was stressing the importance of court maintenance. Without constant care, the President said, the courts would soon become "dust heaps": and maintenance should be a job for the men of the club. Mr Thomas further suggested ladies could help by reminding their menfolk of the importance of the task.  Social attitudes may have changed since 1929, but court maintenance continues to be a problem for the club. Over the years countless working bees have been conducted in an attempt to keep the courts in good condition. During 1929, the club's committee wrote to the Federal Capital Commission pointing out that much football was being played in an area set aside for infants and that a stop should be put to this. 

 

1930 
Ainslie's first clubhouse was built in 1930 and paid for by the government. It stood opposite the present clubhouse and the surrounding fence was paid for out of club funds at a cost of £2.6s.4d.

Unsuccessful attempts were made to establish a rose garden. A club flagpole was erected costing 10/-. It cost the club £1.3s. for the privilege of flying a club flag.

The depression of the 1930's ironically proved a bonus for the club. An Unemployment Relief Committee was established to provide employment for those out of work. The Ainslie Club successfully applied to this committee to have its courts top dressed.

Club members were also instrumental in having Corroborree Park beautified with 500 new trees (planting being performed by the unemployed). The legacy of these efforts makes the Ainslie Tennis Club one of the most picturesque sporting sites in Canberra.

In 1930 it was decided that the club's official colours would be maroon and gold.

 

1931
From the written sources available it appears the first Ainslie team to win a pennant was a "C" grade team competing in a winter mixed competition in 1931.

 

1933
Ainslie Club has entered many hundreds of teams in local competition. It appears from the records that Ainslie fielded its first "A" grade side in 1933.

 

1934
An interesting proposal was put forward to the Committee in 1934 - it was suggested that a ping-pong and social club be formed as an auxiliary to the tennis club - but the motion "lapsed".

 

1936
The death of King George V in 1936 led the Executive to decide to close the courts on the day of his funeral. For many years the courts did not open on Anzac Day morning.

 

1938
First club championships held. In 1938 four Perpetual Cups were donated for competition play. The first winners were:

 

Tom Gillard Cup
(Ladies Open Champion) - Mrs Olive Browning

Frank Marcusson Cup 
(Ladies Open Handicap) - Mrs Pearl McAlister

Ally Nish Cup 
(Mens B Champion) - Mr Jack Pettifer

ALTC Cup 
(Mens Open Handicap) - Mr Merrick Thompson

 

The Ainslie Lawn Tennis Club (ALTC) Cup was purchased with club funds. Over the years other cups were donated by club members which led to the establishment of new club championship events.

 

1941
The membership of the club dropped from 108 in 1941.

 

1942
Only 30 members existed in 1942 (the lowest membership in the club's history). The club championships were not held between 1942 and 1944 due to the war. The war years were some of the most interesting from an historical viewpoint. Competition tennis in Canberra ceased between 1942 and 1944 and social tennis was restricted. Large numbers of men left Canberra either to join the forces or work in war service areas in other states.

 

1943
In 1943 female members of the club took over the responsibility of running the club and an all female executive and committee was elected with Mrs Agnes Gillard becoming the club's only female President. There were only four male members at the club in 1943. The impact of the war led to some interesting administrative decisions. It was decided that all club members joining the forces should be kept on the club register without charge. The wives of these members were to be charged half the normal membership fee. A roll of honour was placed in the Minutes Book to record the names of each member who joined the fighting forces.

 

The list reads as follows:

Mr Coull                          A.I.F.
Mr G Miller                       A.I.F.
Mr W Morphett                A.I.F.
Mr J Pettiffer                   R.A.A.F.
Mr L Thomas                   A.I.F.
Mr W Parker                    A.I.F.

 

Members joining up for service overseas were also given a presentation on behalf of the Club to a value of 10s.6d. The lack of members often meant there was not a quorum to hold committee meetings.

 

On the limited occasions when social matches were played they were run on the basis that afternoon tea be provided by the home team, but due to rationing restrictions each player was to bring their own tea and sugar. Prizes awarded for social competition were often war savings stamps. With the end of the war the club's committee decided war widows should be charged only half the normal membership fee.

 

1945
In 1945 a committee was established to raise funds for the purpose of lighting the centre court. Fund raising continued until 1950 and included card parties, raffles and bring and buy tables. The centre court was lit in 1950 and this additional facility proved very popular. Mrs Agnes Gillard, then Club Patron, hit the first ball under the lights.

 

1946
Since 1946 one of the greatest problems faced by the club has been the shadows thrown on the courts by surrounding trees. The tree problem continues to plague club committees to this day. Vandalism has also been a problem for the club since its inception. Many criticise the youth for their supposed destructiveness and disregard for property.  However, the club records show reports of vandalism from the early 1930's. Petty theft, the breaking of windows and removal of court fittings have been common problems for the club. Other concerns for club members throughout the years have been poor top dressing of the courts, "overactive" children.

 

1947-1957
The post war years (principally 1947-1957) marked some of the busiest times for the club with regard to structural improvements.

 

1950 
Lighting installed on centre court (court 2).

 

1951
In early 1951 plans commenced for the lighting of the second court. 

 

1954
Dogs banned from the Club Grounds. In 1954 the committee sent a letter to the Dunlop Company complaining about the quality of a number of balls purchased by the club. It was pointed out that even by the end of two ladies' sets the "balls had deteriorated alarmingly". The Dunlop company had no qualms about replacing the balls.

 

1955
It was suggested a new clubhouse be built. Construction was performed by the Department of Works and the present clubhouse was completed in 1957. It was opened on the 14th September by the Club's Patron, Mr Guy Thomas. A fence was erected around the building and footpaths laid.

 

1956
Electrical lighting installed on court 1. This made Ainslie one of only three clubs in the district to have two courts with lights - (the other clubs were Turner and Flinders).

 

1957
The club's 1957 committee sent a letter of complaint  to the Department of Works which took offence to the setting up of a commercial carnival and skating rink in Corroborree Park. The most outstanding achievement in club championships probably belongs to Mr Wally Morphett, who in 1957 won the ALTC Cup for the tenth successive year. 

 

14 September 1957 
Present clubhouse opened. Built by the Department of Works, the building was completed with the installation of fixed seating, tables, chairs and venetian blinds. Little structural development has occurred since the opening of the clubhouse.

 

1958
In 1958 the lead lines laid in 1929 were replaced by plastic lines. 

 

1960s
Due to lack of members and financial difficulties in the late 1960's it was suggested Ainslie merge with Dickson Tennis Club. A special general meeting passed a motion approving the merger, but nothing eventuated.

 

1968
A drinks machine was installed in the clubhouse but was removed due to lack of custom ten years later.

 

1971
Competition for the club championships ceased in 1971.
 

1972
Ainslie won its first Junior Pennant in the B1 Girls Event of 1972. The club was particularly strong in junior competition during the 1970's. Much of this strength can be attributed to voluntary coaching by senior members of the club - especially Mr Harry Gibbs.

 

1978
Drinks machine removed.

 

1981
Membership difficulties resulted in Ainslie joining the Northside Tennis Group (comprising Ainslie, Braddon, Majura, Turner and O'Connor Clubs) in 1981. This group was formed to bring the small Northside clubs closer socially and allow for the exchange of players if difficulties were encountered in fielding pennant teams.

 

1985
In 1985 the club was incorporated principally to avoid liability being placed on individual committee members in the event of legal action against the club. Regular club newsletters were sent to members for the first time in 1968.

 

1992
The trophy cabinet (acquired and refurbished in 1992) provides a showcase for several trophies won over the years by Ainslie teams and players. It also recognises the contribution of Pat Deasey, a long time Club member and past President who died suddenly in 1990. Unfortunately the Clubhouse was burgled and the trophies stolen. However, that saga has a happy ending: the trophies were relocated by the police (as far afield as Tumut) and have been returned to the cabinet. 

 

1995
We designed our new logo which has a tree in the centre. The tree overshadows the club, and is one of the most established trees in the area. The club is situated in Corroboree Park which was always deemed to be a park due to its significant stand of trees and its relationship to the local Aborigines. 

 

1996
The Club's 70th anniversary sees the Club in a strong position. The Club won the ACT Tenths Association's Club of the Year for 1996. The Club's historical significance has seen it entered in the Register of the National Estate. Club members are also active in non-playing activities with Neil Hendy being awarded "1996 Umpire of the Year".

 

1997
In 1997, Libby Bailey persuaded Lipton's tea to sponsor the Club to the tune of $360. 

 

1998
As part of bicentennial grant, courts 1 and 2 regravelled. The Diamond Jubilee Year of 1988 finds the club with a proud record of sixty years continuous service (and the occasional return of service) to the sport of tennis in Inner North Canberra. This ranks the club as the second oldest tennis club in Canberra.

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2000-2003

Gravel courts replaced with artificial grass.

 

2009

Heritage mercury lights on court 2 replaced with halogen lights, as was court 3 which went from being unlit to also being lit with halogen lights. The Canberra Tennis Academy operated by Andrew Bulley commenced renting court time at Ainslie to offer adult and junior coaching services in addition to the services it offered at the O'Connor Courts.

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2018

ACT Heritage Unit placed a heritage sign beside the front gate to celebrate 90th birthday of the Club.

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2020

Active Tennis Coaching operated by Andrew Myles replaced the Canberra Tennis Academy and commenced a four year agreement to provide full coaching services for adults and juniors at the courts, including scheduled coaching sessions and ad hoc individual coaching sessions.

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2020

The Clubhouse was rebuilt following discovery of extensive termite damage in 2018.  Opportunity taken to relocate the kitchen area, to consolidate male and female toilets with a single toilet and bathroom, remove the clubhouse storeroom with a storage shed and to cover the clubhouse floor with linoleum.  In addition, clubhouse lighting replaced with LED lighting inside and outside and a spotlight installed to improve nighttime access from the gate to the clubhouse.

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Apart from the history of the club, our 1988 Jubilee attractions included:

•          an Open Day and afternoon tea for past and present members and friends, 

•          the issue of a commemorative port, and

•          a Jubilee Dinner Dance in combination with our close friends at the Braddon Tennis Club.

 

Social tennis is thriving at the Club. A growing number of regulars have joined the stalwarts on Sunday afternoons ensuring 2 hours of enjoyable play. Other members play regularly at other times during the week and at other times over the weekend. In addition to social on Sundays, the Club has an older cohort called the Racqueteers which came to the Club when their previous courts near the O'Connell Centre in Braddon were closed. The Racqueteers play on Wednesdays and Saturdays and mix play with morning or afternoon tea. The Club also has a group known as the Yass Farmers that have been playing on Wednesday mornings fro many years. Not all the players are from Yass or are farmers, but they certainly enjoy their tennis and their lunch.

 

Junior pennant tennis has had a renaissance over the last 2 years and a junior team won a pennant in 2019.  Linda Moore has taken on the role of Junior Pennant Coordinator for 2020.

 

Over the last 20 years, many Ainslie teams have played in pennant competitions and some have celebrated wins and added to the Club's collection of pennants. Kat Knope has taken over the organisation of the teams from other Club stalwarts. Some teams continued to have the same players over many seasons. Although some of the formerly regular pennant players now prefer to play as reserves only, the number of Ainslie pennant teams has grown in the last couple of years with the participation of members who have joined the Club more recently.

 

The Club's courts and Clubhouse have been upgraded over the last 20 years in various ways. Many of the funds for the upgrades have been raised by fundraising activities and much of the labour and expertise has been donated by members. The Club has also received substantial grants from the ACT Government.

 

Both the courts and Clubhouse need ongoing maintenance. Regular working bees are held to keep the courts in optimum condition and to generally tidy the Club's premises. At one working bee, 3 recipients of community service orders also worked alongside members. The Club also acknowledges the contribution of long-standing members Neil Hendy, Alex Pincham, Brian Saker and Dave Veness, Libby Bailey and Neil Pinkerton who over the years have attended to numerous minor and major maintenance tasks in between working bees.

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MEMBERSHIP

Since its inception the Ainslie Tennis Club has had problems attracting a large active membership. However, a common feature of the club has been a strong group of loyal members and a further group of transient members who use the club facilities but tend not to become involved in administration or social events.

 

Initially it was decided to confine membership to an area called "The Weatherboard" part of Ainslie. However, it was quickly realised that the club could not survive by restricting membership.

 

The second world war had a major impact on club membership. However, the post-war period saw the club in a strong position with an average of 105 members between 1945 and 1949. The 1950's were also strong years for the club. Between 1953 and 1959 the club had a continuous membership of over 100 with a peak membership of 160 in 1957. However, even in these years there was concern over the lack of members between the ages of 20 and 30.

 

Since the 1960's there have been major problems in attracting members. Letter-drops, advertisements and open days have been used to stimulate interest, but these have generally met with limited success. Perhaps present club members could learn a lesson from the 1935 committee who, in order to attract members, sent a circular to all members of the Duntroon Club pointing out to them the advantages of playing tennis at Ainslie.

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By the early 2010's the Club's membership had grown to over a 100 members and has remained at this level to date.

 

SOCIAL

An important part of the club's sixty year history has been the social functions it has provided for its members. One of the club's earliest social events was a ball held on the 11th September 1929 at the Albert Hall. The ball was held from 8.30pm till 1.30am and tickets were priced at 12s.6d. a double, 7s.6d. for single gents and 5s.6d. for single ladies. Posters advertising the ball were placed at various localities around Canberra including the window of Snow's Ltd. The ball was also advertised on the screen of the Capitol Theatre. Jazz caps were sold as novelties for the ball at a cost of 6d. each.

 

Card evenings proved to be a popular social activity for members of the club from its inception and these continued into the 1950's. Euchre parties were held both as fund raisers and social events. "Crazy Bridge" and "Crazy Whist" nights were also held, as were social dances.

 

After the second world war an annual cabaret was held each Christmas, normally at the Ainslie Hall in Corroboree Park. An orchestra would be hired to provide music - names like Les Pogson & His Orchestra and Alex Britton's two-piece are referred to in the records of the club.

 

An Ainslie tradition of holding an annual picnic at the Cotter developed early in the club's history. The first picnic was held in March 1930 and twenty-five members attended. Entertainment included running races, cricket and a variety of other games. Members would also go for walks along the river and inspect the Cotter Dam.

 

The war curtailed most social activities but the social club was reformed in 1946. At Cotter picnics were held after the war, and free icecream was given to those who attended. The club still provides a range of interesting and enjoyable social functions for its members.

 

Two highlights of the club's social activities were its 21st and 50th celebrations. The 21st birthday celebrations were held in April 1949 at Ainslie Hall. Eight dozen bottles of soft drink were purchased and given out free of charge. Supper and dancing were provided.

 

A 50th anniversary dinner was held at the Hungarian/Australian Club at Dickson on 29th April 1978. Over 100 past and current members attended the function, including seven foundation members.

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In 2017 the Club introduced a Christmas BBQ and Doubles Championships for members and guests. The numbers have continued to grow each year with 20 members and guests playing in the 2019 Championships including adults, juniors and seniors.

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